Michael had never heard of Soultraits of a similar nature creating a connecting link, but that was only natural. Awakened rarely had more than one Soultrait, and even if they ever awakened two Soultraits, they were rarely of the same kind. Furthermore, even if they were of the same nature, creating a link between each other, nobody would share this find with the outside world. It would be kept a secret until the end of time.
Therefore, he was more curious about the effect of the link and how much it influenced the two 4-Star Soultraits.
Testing the power of Eagle Eyes and Spirit Gaze after the link between them had been established, Michael spent only a few minutes to realize that he struck the Jackpot. The two 4-Star Soultraits felt even stronger than an ordinary 5-Star Soultrait when used simultaneously. To test the potency and energy consumption of the Soultraits, Michael used it on Tiara, Lilica, and the other Forest Elves.
They told him how they felt after the Spirit Gaze struck them, providing crucial information that Michael could use later on.
Satisfied with the power of his Soultraits, Michael watched Tiara bind Spirit Whip as well. She smiled from ear to ear and rushed toward Michael to hug him tightly.
"Thank you so much, Master!!" She exclaimed in excitement.
Tiara kept bobbing on her heels while continuing to embrace Michael firmly. Her hug was tight and warm, causing a small smile to blossom on Michael's face.
Tiara thanked him profusely, but Michael's attention moved to the Forest Elves after the third time Tiara expressed her gratitude.
'What am I supposed to do with you guys?'
Michael's expression stiffened a little while staring at the Forest Elves. He was not sure what to do with them.
If he kept the SoulStar Fragments and Soultrait Symbols to himself, he could upgrade one of his Soultraits. If he was lucky enough, Michael might even receive enough SoulStar Fragments to upgrade a second Soultrait to 5-Star. That was if he crushed the remaining Soultrait Symbols.
The Soultraits harvested from the Kitsun Awakened were not that powerful, either way. Nonetheless, the Forest Elves might take a liking to some of them. Upgrading them could elevate the prowess of certain Soultraits drastically, after all. Last but not least, upgrading Soultraits from 1-Star to 4-Star was rather cheap for the Forest Elves. They didn't have the Sphere of Light that increased the cost of upgrading Soultraits, after all.
With the amount of SS Fragments and Soultraits in his possession, Michael could give the Forest Elves one or two new 4-Star Soultraits…but was that really what Michael wanted to do right now?
Michael kept looking at the Forest Elves for a while before he cleared his throat.
"I want to be honest with you. In fact, it shouldn't come as a surprise, but I cannot give the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team anymore Soultraits without adding a few clauses to the Links of Loyalty established between us. To be entirely honest with the lot of you, I am not comfortable trusting a mere Link of Loyalty if I keep handing out more Soultraits to you. I can upgrade your Soultraits as well in the future, after all," Michael revealed slowly, trying to make sure the Forest Elves wouldn't misunderstand him.
"At this point, the Link of Loyalty won't be enough for me. Providing you the second Soultrait in the past was to gain your favor, and to make sure that you guys won't run away from the danger of the Jungle Expedition. I needed you when they attacked, and your task was to ensure my survival. I am putting in a lot more than I receive. After all, finding out about my powers could change your lives, and the livelihood of the Forest Elven Tribe entirely.
I understand that you weren't completely business-minded when you helped me against the Jungle Expedition, but my powers should have played a role in your decision-making process, whether it was a major one or a minor role."
He took a pause to read their expressions and continued,
"But now I cannot keep investing in the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team if I cannot even be certain that you guys will stay with me and my territory. I don't want to invest in the entire team just to be abandoned when the Zentika Empire attacks or something similar happens. To be fair, it was already very foolish of me to give you Soultraits and enhance them, yet to never consider that you could leave me once the dangers in and around the Untamed Jungle increase considerably. I shouldn't be that naive, and I hope you guys can understand my point of view."
Michael tried to be completely honest with the Forest Elves. He didn't want to lie to them or lead them around with a carrot and a stick. That was not how he acted.
Michael knew that he was currently not that rational and that he was affected by the loss of a large number of loyal subjects today, but all of this made him realize that he had been too naive and gullible until now. He trusted others too much.
Trust was not a bad thing. However, it was bad if you trusted everyone blindly even if there was no reason to trust.
The Forest Elves listened intently to every word Michael said, and they realized quickly that the issue was not with them. It was more about the fact that Michael realized what one of his biggest flaws was. He was too gullible. He even trusted those who caused him harm without doubting them for a second.
Starting from Blaire making a big mistake the day she was summoned, resulting in a big fight against another Lord less than two weeks after Michael became a Lord, to the mishap caused by Mika Zels of the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team...Michael had given the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team several chances and favors. He had easily handed over the Gogi Lord's corpse, but they caused him harm and trouble, even though they didn't do so intentionally.
But instead of punishing Blaire, or hating Mika for what he did, Michael forgave everyone without a second thought. He continued to trust them – which could have caused various problems.
It was only today that Michael's patience and naive attitude began to change. The incident in the Elementals cave with the Elemental Empress, and her nobility caused great harm to his people. Michael couldn't afford to act foolish anymore.
That was something Lilica and her team understood very well. Therefore, they looked at Lilica who nodded her head to agree to Michael's standpoint.
"Don't give us another Soultrait for the time being. Focus on yourself and upgrade your Soultraits first. Once we're back in the base we can make a Blood Pact, undergo a Sacred Ritual, sign a Soul Pact, or whatever you want. I am quite certain that our Elders want us to stay with you, so we can talk about altering the Link of Loyalty, or doing one of the things I mentioned just now," Lilica said, not opposed to signing a binding Soul Pact – not anymore.
"To be honest with you, I like it in the Untamed Jungle, in your territory. It's very warm and welcoming in your territory and does not only entail the temperature in the Untamed Jungle. I also want to grow stronger, and I doubt that you will force us to sign the disgusting type of Soul Pacts like the Kitsun Lord did to his subordinates. So…I will be fine!"
"Same here," Liopham added.
"Ditto!" Mika joined.
"I also agree," Phelia chimed in, while Opars only nodded vigorously in agreement.
Michael was quite pleased with the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team. He might have been a little bit too trusting with them at first, but they didn't betray his trust. That was a good thing and it reassured Michael quite a bit.
He nodded his head subtly as well, only to turn to the Elemental Empress once Tiara released him from her tight embrace.
"Our bond allows me to feel many things, and I can tell that you didn't intend to harm me or my people. Unfortunately, your freedom came at an exorbitant cost. It cost the lives of your people and my people. What are you planning to do now?" Michael asked the Elemental Empress while trying to show little to no emotions.
The Elemental Empress was still weak, but Michael decided to give her a few Energy Nourishing Pills to fill her with vigor and allow her to grow stronger quickly. Even if the Elemental Empress ended up causing him harm indirectly, it was not actually her fault. She had been the Kitsun Lord's pawn just like the Elemental nobility she'd created.
"I…can plan what I want to do? You are my master now, so there is nothing for me to decide…especially not after what happened…"
The Elemental Empress' voice was weak and low. She wasn't feeling well, not after her people sacrificed themselves to rescue her. And the worst was that they killed their benefactors as well. Even the Elemental Empress couldn't forgive herself for that.
However, Michael's voice pulled her out of the gloomy thoughts that flashed through her mind incessantly.
"I told you that I won't treat you the same as the Kitsun Lord did. My mind is still in a mess because my emotions are in disarray, but the bond established between us shows me quite clearly how you feel and that you didn't want any of that to happen. Unfortunately, it happened and we cannot change the past so I am asking you once again. What do YOU want to do?" Michael asked, staring intently at the Elemental Empress.
The Elemental Empress regained her vigor slowly. She got up from the ground and looked up to Michael, her eyes filled with a tiny trace of determination.
"I…I want to take revenge. Let me fight the Kitsun!"
